Language on the Move

Next Gen Literacies

Creating a multilingual library

In my work with multilingual families, reading in the home language raises its head on so many levels. It is viewed as a shared family activity in a way that…

Sabine LittleNovember 7, 2018

Can English skills help end migrant exploitation?

In Bahrain, I was beaten. For example, they asked for tea. I gave tea leaves. I did not make the tea. She put her hand on my neck and moved…

Qumrul Hasan Chowdhury and Elizabeth J. ErlingOctober 15, 2018

Language learning

Are bilinguals better language learners?

Professor Peter Siemund, Hamburg University, during his guest lecture at Macquarie University It is easy to assume that bilinguals are better at adding another language to their repertoire. But is…

Hanna TorshOctober 5, 2018

Language in Australia

Being Chinese in Australia

Passport photos of early Chinese immigrants (Source: Invisible Australians) For most Chinese migrants, China is what they call home. China is the basis on which they establish a sense…

Yining WangSeptember 24, 2018

News

Anneliese Maier Research Awards 2018

The 2018 Anneliese Maier Research Award Recipients (Image: Humboldt-Stiftung/Jens Jeske) The awards ceremony and research symposium for the Anneliese Maier Research Awards took place in Berlin from September 11 to…

Ingrid PillerSeptember 16, 2018

Multilingual families

Hoping to raise bub bilingually?

New Zealand's PM wants to raise her newborn daughter bilingually (Source: radionz) New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, plans to raise her newborn daughter bilingually in Māori and English. Her…

Ingrid PillerSeptember 3, 2018

Language in education

What do migrant parents expect from schools?

Dr Fadila Boutouchent during her guest lecture at Macquarie University When she was in kindergarten, my oldest daughter came home one day talking about "our soldiers" who "went to war for…

Hanna TorshAugust 29, 2018

Multilingual families

Bilingual children refusing to speak the home language

Dr Sabine Little during her guest lecture at Macquarie University When my daughter was five years old, she one day solemnly informed me that, from now on, she was no…

Ingrid PillerAugust 15, 2018

Next Gen Literacies

?4U: Is Twitter killing the English language?

This story was authored by Antra Kalnins and first published at Macquarie University's The Lighthouse. It is reproduced here with permission. *** If the question in the headline makes you…

Language on the MoveAugust 4, 2018

Language learning

How can we change language habits?

Language choice in bilingual couples as habit (excerpt from Piller, 2002, p. 137) In my research with bilingual couples, habit emerged as one of the main reasons for a couple’s…

Ingrid PillerAugust 1, 2018

News

Lectures in Linguistic Diversity

Lectures in Linguistic Diversity will be hosted at Macquarie University The Linguistics Department at Macquarie University is hosting a lecture series showcasing current international research in linguistic diversity. Program Tuesday,…

Language on the MoveJuly 26, 2018

Language and globalization

Virtually multilingual

English is the mother tongue of the Internet, or so it seems. English is omnipresent in the architecture of this breakthrough technology. You see it in the QWERTY keyboard, domain…

Pia TenederoJune 7, 2018

Multilingual histories

How to end native speaker privilege

Native and non-native teachers at Lord Harris' School, Royapett, Madras, 1865 (Source: British Library) For some time now, a debate has been raging in TESOL about the relative merits of…

Ingrid PillerMay 31, 2018

Multilingual histories

In search of myself

This week is Library and Information week (#LIW2018). Library and Information Week aims to raise the profile of libraries and information service professionals in Australia. What better way to celebrate…

Ingrid PillerMay 21, 2018

Language learning

In search of a language and an identity

An injured young man wakes up on a German hospital ship in 1943. His mind is blank: he cannot remember who he is, or even how to speak, and has…

Laura Smith-KhanMay 16, 2018

Intercultural communication

One Orientalism or many Orientalisms?

Students at the German-Chinese College, ca. 1910 (Source: German Federal Archives) The dichotomy of East and West is a recent phenomenon and associated with European industrialization. Yet, it is difficult…

Gegentuul BaioudMay 10, 2018